STEP INSIDE: BATHROOMS Luxe Life
James Roberts, Director at Sanctuary Bathrooms, tells you what your customers need to know about choosing the right flooring to create a spa-esque atmosphere in their bathroom.
When you’re trying to create a calming, spa-like look in a bathroom, there’s a bunch of quick changes you can make, such as adding dimmer lights, massage shower heads, towel heaters and oil diffusers.
But one of the most important parts of any bathroom design – the flooring – can be the most difficult to get right. Installing flooring can be expensive and laborious, so there’s a big price to pay if it goes wrong.
The right bathroom flooring needs to balance aesthetics and practical value, and this isn’t always easy to do. Because of this, customers are often deliberate with their flooring choices, making it a great opportunity to offer some expert advice.
COLOUR
To give a bathroom that high-end, luxurious feel, customers should avoid bright colours. Earthy colours, light greys and whites are all better options, and certain soft shades like pastel pinks and greens can also work.
These principles apply to the bathroom floor, too. Recommend natural wood colours, light grey or white finishes.
Customers could also consider opting for natural wood colours when accessorising their bathroom floor. A wooden or teak shower mat is an elegant addition to any bathroom – one that will complement your customer’s design and colour scheme.
MATERIALS
Aesthetically, most people find wood flooring the best for creating a calm, spa-like atmosphere in a bathroom. But practically, solid wood flooring doesn’t do well in damp, humid environments.
If your customer is keen on the wood floor look, there are more practical alternatives, such as engineered wood flooring. Whilst solid wood flooring is constructed using a single plank of wood – making it vulnerable to humidity – engineered wood is made by placing a thin layer of real wood on top of a plywood base.
30 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors
You could also recommend ceramic or porcelain tiles that are designed to look like wood. These are available in many styles and patterns, so you should be able to find something that suits the design of your customer’s bathroom.
If your customer doesn’t like the wood floor look, traditional styles of ceramic and porcelain tiles are another great way to create the spa aesthetic in a bathroom. However, they are more difficult to install than wood flooring so it’s worth explaining to your customer that installation is best left to a professional. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are long-lasting and durable, and less likely to be damaged by the humidity that can affect wooden floors.
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Nothing creates a feeling of comfort and luxury in a bathroom quite like underfloor heating, particularly with ceramic or porcelain flooring, which can be pretty cold underfoot.
Some kinds of flooring are more suitable for underfloor heating than others. Ceramic tiles are probably your customer’s best bet. They conduct heat well because they’re thin, and it’s easy to keep them clean.
If their heart is set on wooden flooring, and they want to add an underfloor heating mat beneath it, make sure you recommend engineered rather than solid wood. Unlike solid wood, engineered wood isn’t usually affected by the temperature of the floor. Softer and less dense types of solid wood aren’t as suitable, because, depending on the thickness of the wood, they can block the heat from coming through.
Whatever your customer’s bathroom design, getting the right kind of flooring – one that works practically and aesthetically – is a big step towards creating the perfect spa atmosphere in their bathroom. For you, it’s a great opportunity to offer some expert advice and create happy, loyal customers.
www.sanctuary-bathrooms.co.uk www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com
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